Kurdish Nevruz Celebrations Become a Rallying Cry of Oppressed
-
-
- Nicholas_Dynan
- added this
Nevruz celebrations have become a rallying for Kurdish groups seeking recognition by the Turkish government. Celebrations bring tension to the city. A multimedia project on Kurdish Nevruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey:
Turkey's Kurdish minority is one of many groups who celebrate Nevruz, the Persian festival of the Spring Equinox. Not surprisingly, the festivities in Istanbul also act as an opportunity to rally for Kurdish rights.
Many of the thousands of celebrators who came to a large clearing in the Zeytinbunu district of Istanbul brought banners and clothes of red, yellow and green – colors symbolic of Kurdish cultural solidarity.
Throughout the morning the atmosphere was excited however not without an air of tension. A large police presence was felt around the celebrations. According to one officer, this increased security was due to potential disruption by other groups hoping to sabotage the event and incite violence.
One of these groups includes the Kurdish workers party, or PKK, a terrorist organization, which has aims to create an independent Kurdish state.
While within the crowd several attendees shouted slogans supporting the PKK, a majority of attendees came to celebrate their Kurdish heritage and protest for ethnic rights.
“This is for democracy for freedom of Kurdish people. As you know this is around 80 years the Kurdish people have been under the rule of the Turkish people. And there is no democracy for our language, for our culture, so we are struggling for it,” said one Kurdish woman.
While Nevruz is not solely a Kurdish celebration, because of the holiday’s past illegality in Turkey, it has taken on particular meaning for this segment of the population. Nonetheless, some see it as a celebration for peace for everyone.
“Everyone here comes together regardless of religious belief or race. All those who come together want peace. They want the shooting to stop, the blood not to flow, they want the hate to end. All those who come, come together regardless of race or beliefs. This field welcomes all.”
At the same time, for many this was just a day out in the beautiful spring weather.
“They think that when we come to Nevruz we are going to fight, pick up stones and throw them. But we come with our children and our wives. Its a holiday. The police are relaxed, we are relaxed,” said one Nevruz attendee.
Although many expected tensions to run high the event passed peacefully and as the fires dwindled, so did the energy, the music and the crowds.
Nicholas Dynan is currently living in Istanbul, Turkey reporting for Hürriyet Daily news and Globalpost.com as a freelance journalist. His works includes photographic, video, & audio reporting. He is from Boston, MA. His current work is on display at http://www.nicholasdynan.com/blog
Turkey's Kurdish minority is one of many groups who celebrate Nevruz, the Persian festival of the Spring Equinox. Not surprisingly, the festivities in Istanbul also act as an opportunity to rally for Kurdish rights.
Many of the thousands of celebrators who came to a large clearing in the Zeytinbunu district of Istanbul brought banners and clothes of red, yellow and green – colors symbolic of Kurdish cultural solidarity.
Throughout the morning the atmosphere was excited however not without an air of tension. A large police presence was felt around the celebrations. According to one officer, this increased security was due to potential disruption by other groups hoping to sabotage the event and incite violence.
One of these groups includes the Kurdish workers party, or PKK, a terrorist organization, which has aims to create an independent Kurdish state.
While within the crowd several attendees shouted slogans supporting the PKK, a majority of attendees came to celebrate their Kurdish heritage and protest for ethnic rights.
“This is for democracy for freedom of Kurdish people. As you know this is around 80 years the Kurdish people have been under the rule of the Turkish people. And there is no democracy for our language, for our culture, so we are struggling for it,” said one Kurdish woman.
While Nevruz is not solely a Kurdish celebration, because of the holiday’s past illegality in Turkey, it has taken on particular meaning for this segment of the population. Nonetheless, some see it as a celebration for peace for everyone.
“Everyone here comes together regardless of religious belief or race. All those who come together want peace. They want the shooting to stop, the blood not to flow, they want the hate to end. All those who come, come together regardless of race or beliefs. This field welcomes all.”
At the same time, for many this was just a day out in the beautiful spring weather.
“They think that when we come to Nevruz we are going to fight, pick up stones and throw them. But we come with our children and our wives. Its a holiday. The police are relaxed, we are relaxed,” said one Nevruz attendee.
Although many expected tensions to run high the event passed peacefully and as the fires dwindled, so did the energy, the music and the crowds.
Nicholas Dynan is currently living in Istanbul, Turkey reporting for Hürriyet Daily news and Globalpost.com as a freelance journalist. His works includes photographic, video, & audio reporting. He is from Boston, MA. His current work is on display at http://www.nicholasdynan.com/blog
-
- groups:
- Community, VC2 Top Contenders US
